Cumbo's coverup: A councilwoman's misguided attempt to punish those who revealed the truth about a male political ally

Laurie Cumbo is unhappy. The Brooklyn councilwoman wants the NYPD inspector general to open up an investigation into the 11th-hour leaking — to the Daily News' Jill Jorgensen and Rocco Parascandola — of a sealed record of Jumaane Williams' arrest a decade ago on a domestic disturbance. (Williams went on to win the special election to become interim public advocate. For those doing the math, he claimed 33% of 8.6% turnout, or roughly 2.8% of the city's voters.)

A push to probe how information about such an arrest got out is, well, awfully odd coming from someone who considers herself part of the #metoo and #timesup movements exposing unethical and illegal treatment of women by powerful men.

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New York City is getting a new public advocate, remember, because women were abused. A New Yorker report last year exposed former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's penchant for physically and psychologically battering women. His resignation led to Tish James' successful effort to replace him, thus opening up the advocate's office.

We don't know precisely what Williams did. In 2009, police were called after a purse was thrown during what Williams says was primarily a verbal dispute him and his then-girlfriend. Police found a chair, the wall and a Christmas ornament damaged. Per protocol, Williams was arrested. The case was later resolved and the record sealed; the then-City Council candidate was never convicted of anything, which matters in our innocent-until-proven-guilty system.

Still, information about an arrest in a domestic disturbance would seem relevant, as it adds to the picture of a politician whose car has racked up 27 speeding violations in school zones since 2013, and who was found guilty of blocking an ambulance during an immigrants' rights protest.

At a time when "believe women" is a mantra, a female politician would rather give a male ally the benefit of the doubt and protect his secrets.